Vote Falls Short To Override Veto In Anne Arundel

ANNAPOLIS (AP) -- The Anne Arundel County Council has failed to override County Executive John R. Leopold's veto on amendments to a bill that affects collective bargaining disputes.

The council failed Monday to muster the five votes needed to override. The vote in favor of the override was 4 to 3.

The bill had passed unanimously in early March. It was designed to give the council final say in labor disputes between the county and its public safety employees.

Prior to the change a neutral third-party issued opinions when disputes arose, and both the administration and the council would be bound by those rulings.

Leopold vetoed three amendments that would have reaffirmed that the administration is bound by the arbitrator's ruling.

The county's public safety unions were unhappy with the failed override.

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